1. Budget Wisely, and Give Every Dollar a Job (John D. Rockefeller)

Now let me leave this little word of counsel for you. Keep a little ledger, as I did. Write down in it what you receive, and do not be ashamed to write down what you pay away. See that you pay it away in such a manner that your father or mother may look over your book and see just what you did with your money. It will help you to save money, and that you ought to do.

– John D. Rockefeller, talk given at the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church

2. Pay Yourself First (George S. Clason)

Now I shall tell thee the first remedy I learned to cure a lean purse. Do exactly as I have suggested. . . . For every ten coins thou placest within thy purse take out for use but nine. Thy purse will start to fatten at once and its increasing weight will feel good in thy hand and bring satisfaction to thy soul.

Deride not what I say because of its simplicity. Truth is always simple. I told thee I would tell how built my fortune. This was my beginning. I, too, carried a lean purse and cursed it because there was naught within to satisfy my desires. But when I began to take out from my purse but nine parts often I put in, it began to fatten. So will thine.

– George Clason, "The Richest Man in Babylon"

3. Live Below Your Means (Dave Ramsey)

We live among a bunch of people who are deeply in debt and have no money saved because their emotions were tricked. Just like drug addicts, people have been conned into believing that happiness will come with the next purchase. You probably think I am writing about someone else, but I’m not. I am writing about you. I know because I am suffering from the same disease — but I am recovering and so are many of you. The human spirit was not created to attain peace, contentment, or fulfillment by gathering more stuff.

– Dave Ramsey, "The Money Answer Book"

4. Understand the Difference Between an Asset and a Liability (Robert Kiyosaki)

You must know the difference between an asset and a liability, and buy assets. If you want to be rich, this is all you need to know. It is Rule No. 1. It is the only rule. This may sound absurdly simple, but most people have no idea how profound this rule is. Most people struggle financially because they do not know the difference between an asset and a liability.

An asset is something that puts money in my pocket. A liability is something that takes money out of my pocket.

– Robert Kiyosaki, "Rich Dad Poor Dad"

Source: Brandon Krieg, "4 Money Tips from 4 Personal Finance Legends", The Art of Manliness